What is "Do the Thing Syndrome?"
General forum
Posted on June 19, 2025, 3:14 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
In this article, the writer accuses many of the cards in Tarkir: Dragonstorm of having "do the thing syndrome," but does not explain what that syndrome is, so does anyone here have any guess as to what that syndrome is?
FormOverFunction says... #3
I’ve heard people refer to modern commanders as being “everything bagels” in their mechanics. Joe old is a perfect example. It’s almost like they’re just combining mainstay pieces (like Blood Artist and Ashnod's Altar) and melding them into a new legendary.
June 19, 2025 4:16 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #4
Crow_Umbra, thank you for pointing that out, since I did not notice that, and other examples would be Archangel of Thune and Lathiel, the Bounteous Dawn, as each of those creatures has lifelink and also a payoff for gaining life, as well.
June 19, 2025 6:54 p.m.
Another subtler, maybe more subjective point is that it seems to be a reasonably common and achievable self-providing payoff. Life gain, sacrificing, and milling are all reasonably common actions that are easy to build around. I personally wouldn't call Zedruu the Greathearted or Rafiq of the Many as much of a thing-doer, because donating permanents and solo attacking are much more niche. Is that just me?
Crow_Umbra says... #2
In the article you linked, there is a slight example underneath Syr Konrad, the Grim, "Do-the-Thing Syndrome (where a commander is both its own enabler/value engine and payoff)".
A notorious example of this would be Korvold, Fae-Cursed King since he sacrifices permanents, then directly benefits from whenever you sacrifice a permanent.
June 19, 2025 3:57 p.m.